Observer States

Local elected representatives sign Declaration to fight human trafficking

Strasbourg, 31.05.2006 – On the second day of the Congress session, local elected representatives from 17 municipalities signed today, in the presence of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis and Congress President Halvdan Skard, the Declaration on the fight against trafficking in human beings.

By doing so, they recognised the gravity of the problem, which is felt most at local and regional level, and committed themselves to mounting local action against trafficking.

“Trafficking in human beings is slavery,” stressed the Secretary General speaking at the signing ceremony. “The ‘slave trade’ of today takes place on the streets of cities and towns. The local authorities are the first to be confronted and to have to deal with trafficking and related issues. You are the front line in the fight against trafficking and in helping the victims,” he said, adding that the Declaration was one step further in involving local authorities and recognising their role in dealing with this tragic and shameful phenomenon.

“A human being is born to freedom. Yet still today many millions of people in Europe are not free as they being trafficked, exploited and sold as slaves,” underscored the Congress President, calling trafficking a blight on our society and a scourge for territorial communities. “Combating trafficking requires not only international texts and national policy measures, but also a complementary, concerted local and regional approach. It is at local and regional level that the drama of trafficking takes place,” he said, urging a maximum number of local authorities to sign the Declaration.

The Declaration is the Congress’ contribution to the Council of Europe’s campaign against trafficking, led under the slogan “Human being – not for sale!” It will be available for signature online at the Congress’ website www.coe.int/congress.